Slipper



Jan. 16, 1962 R. s. SERVIN 3,016,631

SLIPPER Filed July 14, 1960 FIG! INVENTOR. ROBERT S. SERVI N WI-( em ATTORNEY 3,016,631 SUPPER Robert d. Servin, .lenirintown, Pa, assignor to Robert Hosiery Mills, The, Trappe, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Early 14, 196%, der. No. 42,860 4 Claims. (tCl. 36-3) This invention relates to a slipper, and more particularly, to a stretch-type slipper.

It is desirable to have a slipper for wearing around the house which is soft and comfortable. The slipper should cover the entire foot for warmth, and should snugly lit the foot to hold the slipper on the foot. The appearance of the slipper both on and off the foot is an important feature of a slipper.

It has been found that a stretch-type slipper has many advantages over other types of slippers. A stretch-type slipper will fit various size feet so that the slipper need only be made in a few standard sizes to cover the complete range of sizes of feet. In addition, a stretch-type slipper is most desirable for children since it permits a longer use of the slipper even as the childs feet grow.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel slipper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel stretch-type slipper.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stretch-type slipper which holds its shape on and E the foot.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel stretch-type slipper which is light in weight, is soft, and maintains the foot warm.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawing a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the slipper of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the slipper of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along the lines 3--3 in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a slipper designated generally as ill.

The slipper it comprises a sole l2 and an upper 14. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 2, the sole 12 is of a shape to cover the entire bottom of the foot. The sole 12 comprises a layer 16 of an elastic material, such as foam rubber or foam plastic, and a separate layer 18 of a knitted material covering each side of the layer 16. The knitted layers 18 are of a material that can be stretched longitudinally of the sole 12. The elastic layer 16 of the sole i2 is substantially thicker than the knitted layers 18, so that the elastic layer 16 provides a cushion for the foot.

The upper 14 comprises a body 20 of the knitted material having a toe portion 22 and a heel portion 24. The toe portion 22 and the heel portion 24 of the body 20 are contoured so as to cover that portion of a foot below the ankle.

As seen more clearly in FIGURE 3, the upper 14 is laminar in structure. The laminations of the upper 14 comprise the body 2% of knitted material and a layer 26 of cellular foam material adhesively joined to the body 20. By cellular, is meant an open-cell translucent material. The layer 26 of cellular foam material is preferably foam polyurethane. The layer 26 of foam material is applied to the entire inner surface of the body 20 of Patented Jan. 16, 1962 knitted material so that the foot will be in contact with a soft, warm material which can breathe. Since the layer 26 is a cellular foam material, the layer 26 can breathe and thereby prevent the foot from sweating.

An elastic band 28 is stitched to the upper 14 around the upper edge thereof thereby defining the opening through which the foot enters the slipper 10. The entire bottom edge 3% on the upper 14 is folded inwardly, and is secured to the upwardly folded edge 32 of the sole 12 by the overlock stitching 34. It will be noted that the overlook stitching 34 penetrates the layers of knitted material 18, the layer of foam rubber 16, the body 20 of knitted material and the layer 26 of foam cellular material.

In use of the slipper 10 of the present invention, the elastic band 28 permits stretching of the top edge of the upper 14 to permit a foot to be easily inserted into the slipper ill). When the foot is inserted into the slipper it), the upper 14 and the sole 12 will stretch longitudinally to correspond with the size of the foot. Since the body 2t? is of knitted material, the body 20 will stretch longitudinally. Since the layer 26 is formed of foam cellular material, the layer 26 will also stretch longitudinally. The elasticity of the elastic band 28 holds the upper edge of the upper 14- snugly around the foot below the ankle. Thus, the slipper it) will not slide off of a foot. When the slipper it is removed from the foot, the elastic band 28, the layer 26 of foam cellular material and the layer of foam rubber 16 will return the slipper 10 to its normal size.

Since the layer 26 is an open-cell foam material, the layer 26 does not add materially to the weight of the slipper. The slipper 10 is light in weight, and stretches for self-accommodation to a foot. The layer 26 of foam cellular material is soft and warm to the touch. The open-cell characteristic of the layer 26 of foam cellular material enables the slipper 10 to breathe thereby reducing the tendency of the foot to sweat.

As pointed out above, the layer 26 of cellular foam material is preferably made from a synthetic material. However, other foam materials may be substituted therefor. Since the slipper it! is provided with a sole 12 having a relatively thick layer of foam rubber 16, the slipper it) has a cushioning means for the foot.

It will be noted that the elastic band 28 extends over the free edges of the layer 26 of foam cellular material and the body 2tl of knitted material thereby concealing said free edges and providing the slipper it) with a neat appearance off the foot as well as on the foot.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A slipper comprising a sole having a relatively flat elastic material layer covered on each side by a knitted material layer, said sole being of a shape corresponding to the bottom of a foot, an upper of a body of knitted material extending over said sole, said upper having a toe portion covering the front of said sole and a heel portion around the back of said sole, the upper having a bottom edge which extends around and overlaps the edge of said sole, the bottom edge of said upper being sewn to the edge of said sole by a line of overlook stitching, said line of stitching extending through all of the layers of the sole to secure said layers together, the knitted body of said upper being provided with a layer of cellular foam material, said foam material being secured to the inner surface of said body by an adhesive, and an elastic band extending around free edges of said upper 3 thereby defining an opening through which a foot may extend.

2. In a stretch-type slipper comprising a cushioned sole having a shape corresponding to the bottom of a foot, an upper of a body of knitted material extending over said sole, said upper being secured to said sole by a line of stitching joining a bottom edge of said upper to an edge of said sole, and a layer of open-cell synthetic material secured to the inner surface of said upper.

3. In a stretch-type slipper in accordance with claim 2 wherein said synthetic foam material is secured to the inner surface of said upper by an adhesive.

4. In a stretch-type slipper in accordance with claim 3 wherein said synthetic foam material is made of polyurethane.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fulton July 8, 1913 Arsdale et a1 Nov. 16, 1943 Donahue Ian. 16, 1951 Dahlhouser Apr. 24, 1951 Hoza Feb. 19, 1952 Giese Dec. 22, 1953 Reed May 25, 1954 Bevier Dec. 6, 1955 Scholl July 9, 1957 Arnold Aug. 5, 1958 Servin May 3, 1960 

